PURPOSE: To eliminate the color development of a white paper part, by providing a protective layer based on an aqueous emulsion of a water-soluble high- molecular compound on the thermal color forming layer containing a specific leuco dye and a specific coupler provided on a support.

CONSTITUTION: As a leuco dye, 3-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-6-methyl7- anilinofluorance is compounded and, as a coupler, bis(3-allyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone and 1,1,3-tris (3-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-6-methylphenyl)butane are compounded to prepare a coating silution which is, in turn, applied to a support such as fine paper and dried to form a thermal color forming layer. A coating soulution based on an aqueous emulsion of a water-soluble high-molecular compound or a water-insoluble resin is applied to said thermal color torming layer and dried to laminate a protective layer thereto to obtain a thermal recording material.